????  Good Morning. It’s Thursday. 

????️  In Today’s Playbook. How PA Supreme Court Election Could Influence 2028 Presidential Race. Pennsylvanians Say Government, Politicians Biggest Problem Facing State. PA-07 Race Highlights How Democrats Are Figuring Out Their Path Forward. An Upstart Black Rodeo in Philly.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. We Didn’t Start The Fire. Billy Joel

PA Weather
☀️  Irwin | Sunny, 62
☀️  Muncy | Sunny, 61
☀️  Hamburg | Sunny, 62

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (1-2) | LA Dodgers 8-2 | Thu vs. LA Dodgers
????  Eagles (4-1) | Thu vs. NY Giants
????  Flyers (0-0) | Thu vs. Florida
????  Penguins (1-0) | Thu vs. NY Islanders

????  What We’re Hearing. Pope Leo XIV encouraged international news agencies on Thursday to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation, as he strongly backed a free, independent and objective press.

????  The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.

Top Story

1.   How a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Election Could Influence the 2028 Presidential Race

“A normally low-key Pennsylvania Supreme Court race to determine whether three Democratic justices will remain on the bench for another 10-year term is drawing attention from across the political spectrum amid speculation about the role the court could play in the swing state leading up to the 2028 presidential election.

The justices are not facing off against any opponents. Instead, voters will simply respond “yes” or “no” to whether they wish for the three incumbents to remain on the state’s highest court.

This particular race may have national implications as it could potentially influence the 2028 presidential election — especially with the state’s high court expected to preside over cases like election litigation and redistricting.” (ABC News)

Elsewhere

​​Inside the Clunky Elections to Control Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. “The GOP is making an expensive push to end Democrats’ majority on a court at the center of election lawsuits, sparking a fledging campaign season with little precedent or template.” (Bolts)

Why Are Josh Shapiro and Others Talking About Abortion in Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Race? “Nearly every advertisement running in support of retaining Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht prioritizes abortion rights as the reason Pennsylvanians need to vote yes.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA-10: Pennsylvania Republicans Reignite Bid to Unseat MAGA Congressman. “The “Republicans Against Perry” (Rap) group began in late 2023, backing the congressman’s Democratic opponent, Janelle Stelson, who ended up losing by less than two points in the 2024 election. Now, Rap is restarting their grassroots campaign on Thursday, which includes a slew of electronic billboards throughout the district.” (The Guardian)

Political Strategists Are Embracing AI. “As campaigns face pressure to produce ads that pop in a crowded media environment, they’re turning to artificial intelligence to gain attention.” (NOTUS)

State

2.  F&M Poll: Pennsylvanians Say Government, Politicians Biggest Problem Facing State

“As the Pennsylvania state budget impasse reaches day #101, residents say that politicians and the government are the biggest problem facing the Keystone State, according to a Franklin & Marshall College poll.

Nearly 1 in 4 respondents (23%) said that government is the most important problem – up from 10% just one year ago. In October 2024, 30 percent of those polled said it was the economy and finances that the state needed to deal with most. That number fell to 12% this time around.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

House Democrats Send New Budget Proposal to Senate On 100th Day of Impasse in Pennsylvania. “In the first public action in nearly two months amidst the state budget impasse, lawmakers in the Democratic-led House approved a $50.25 billion spending proposal and sent it to the Senate for consideration.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Lots of Harsh Rhetoric, Little Progress at PA Capitol On Months-Overdue Budget. “Despite some increasingly sharp political barbs being thrown, Pennsylvania’s three-month-late state budget showed few signs of being closer to completion this week.” (PennLive)

PA Senate Passes Bill Allowing the Treasury Dept. to Waive Interest On Budget Impasse Loans. “Republicans defended the measure as a way to ensure the treasury has that authority and alleviate the impacts of the budget impasse on county governments and social service providers.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Supreme Court Likely to Let Candidates More Freely Challenge State Election Laws. “A majority of the Supreme Court signaled on Wednesday that it would allow candidates for federal office to more freely challenge state elections laws without having to prove that the rules would significantly harm their chance of winning.” (ABC News)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  PA-07: One Big Swing-State Race Highlights How Democrats Are Figuring Out Their Path Forward

“Democrats’ way back to the House majority could run through a swing district in the nation’s biggest swing state. The question is which path the party will choose to try to get there.

Since February, five Democrats have launched campaigns for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, a Lehigh Valley seat held by Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, which has flipped back and forth and seen some of the closest races in the country in recent years.” (NBC News)

Elsewhere

Mackenzie Calls Democrats ‘Reckless’ For Shutting Down Government Over Health Care Subsidies He Supports. “U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie continued to blame Democrats for the week-long federal shutdown during a telephone town hall Tuesday night.” (LehighValleyNews)

Our Interview With Stacy Garrity. “Broad + Liberty’s managing editor, Kyle Sammin, sat down with State Treasurer Stacy Garrity to discuss the treasury, the budget stalemate, and the issues involved in her run for governor in 2026.” (Broad + Liberty)

SEPTA Funding and the Perils of Political Theatre. “We should consider not only what such a spectacle reveals about the internal dynamics of Pennsylvania politics but also, more broadly, the way politics works across the country.” (Swarthmore Phoenix)

Lehigh County Executive Candidates Spar Over Crime Response, ICE, Election Security in Debate. “In the debate between candidates for Lehigh County executive Wednesday night, one unseemly moment intruded on an otherwise tightly run and mostly civil event.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Judicial Retention Battles Are Good, But Partisan Campaigns Are Bad | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• This Shutdown Is As Pointless As All the Others | Bloomberg
• All Rise! The U.S. Supreme Court Is About to Buff Up Trump’s ‘Golden Age’ | John Baer 
• Populism is Popular With Workers, But Democrats Are Not | Dustin Guastella and Todd E. Vachon
• Suburban Democrats Have Stopped Pretending to Be Moderates | Guy Ciarrocchi
• Shapiro Failed to Protect PA from Budget Stalemates | Megan Martin
• Congress Must Act Now on Permitting Reform to Promote Jobs and Lower Costs In Pennsylvania | Rep. Stephenie Scialabba

1 Thing

5.  How An Upstart Black Rodeo Found a Home in Philly

“When Ivan McClellan was looking for a new stable to take his foal of a production to the next level, it took him eight seconds to realize where he needed to go.

Why it matters: After nearly three decades, Philly’s getting a Black rodeo — and this one’s here to stay.

The big picture: Home to a century-old tradition of Black cowboys, Philly is the perfect place to make 8 Seconds Rodeo’s new home base. But first, he must dazzle the city, which he calls “the grittiest, most soulful place on the planet.”” (Axios Philadelphia)

Thanks for starting your day with us.
Rounding the turn and heading to the weekend.